By Katy James
Contributing writer, Baptist and Reflector
LINDEN — Marilyn Means spent her adult life traveling and presenting in West Tennessee schools. To talk with Means about her beloved electric company from which she recently retired, is to be inspired about the necessity of farmer established electric co-ops in the 1930’s. She speaks with such authenticity and inspiration about her former job, her faith and her journey with Christ — and it all began as a Girls in Action camper at Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers at the Linden Valley location.
Means, a member of Charleston Baptist Church, Stanton, recently visited the Linden Valley Conference Center, which marked her first time back on campus in 50 years. That day, she walked to the cabin up on the hill where she stayed, walking on the restored original wood floors and putting her hand on the bunk where she would’ve stayed in.
She teared up and spoke with the same inspirational tone about how special it was to her that the same ministry is still reaching the lives of young people today. Now she returns to advocate for its well-being as a member of the board of directors.
Like many of her generation, Means never knew anything but church growing up. Her mother was a faithful member of the WMU while Means attended Sunbeams.
“I started my life in church, I knew about God and thought I was a Christian through the faith of my parents,” Means recalls.
She went to choir, family devotionals, and she would even lay awake and think about God. But all of this didn’t create a faith but prepared the soil for seeds that would soon be sown. A pivotal moment happened in her life when she found out her best friend was attending GA camp at Linden Valley.
Means wanted to join her but there was no extra money for camp, and she had never been away from home before. Nevertheless, through the providence of God — and with the help of Tennessee Baptists — she found herself on the top bunk in Cuckoo cabin.
Evenings in the Tabernacle soon became her favorite part of the day. Each evening God continued to work in her heart until she understood what it meant to personally have Jesus in her life.
When Means recently drove up the drive at Linden Valley, it all came flooding back. “I came as one that was searching and left as one that was found,” she said. “It was a beautiful feeling. Life hasn’t been perfect, but God has been with me ever since I came to know Jesus in the Tabernacle at 12 years old.”
Means now supports Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers from her seat on the TBMB Conference Centers Committee and plans to jump in as a volunteer wherever she can. She’s passionate to help the ministry that provided a place for her to experience God and for Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers to keep doing the same for the next generation.
Those interested in joining Means and her fellow supporters can do so by volunteering, signing up for the Conference Center newsletter or giving to the We Must Have a Place initiative funding new cabins for campers like Means at Linden Valley. B&R